What Exactly Is Hell?

"Christianity Questions and Answers" podcast CQA 045

Podcast (listen-to-this-article-here): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:48 — 15.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

People use the word “hell” all the time, but rarely in its proper context. What exactly is hell?

Most of the time it’s used:

• In a joke

• As an expletive such as “hell yes” or “what the hell”

• As a threat such as “he can just go to hell”

• With no regard to the depth of meaning and warning in Scripture
  

Dr. Chris Gnanakan

People want to think of hell as

• Imaginary

• Unreal

• A myth

• A joke

• Impossible

But what does the Bible say? What exactly is hell? 

That’s the question addressed by my guest on this week’s podcast. My guest is Dr. Chris Gnanakan. Here’s a short biography:

Dr. Chris Gnanakan is originally from South India, and now lives with his family in Virginia. He is currently a professor at Liberty University’s School of Divinity, serving as a bridge between the mission field and the next generation of Christian leaders. Dr. Chris is also the Director of Outreach to Asia Nationals (OTAN), a mission organization that enables nationals to reach nationals in restricted-access countries with the Gospel. Chris holds three doctoral degrees.

You can learn more about Chris and contact him via his website: chrisgnanakan.com

The goal of this podcast is to get clear on what the Bible really says and teaches about what exactly is hell.

Chris’ and my goal is not to puff up or downgrade biblical teaching. It is to simply and clearly present exactly what the Bible says about hell.

Here are some of the verses regarding exactly is hell that are referenced in this recording:

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15 KJV)

“All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.” (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 NIV)

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 ESV)

The wonderful promise of the Bible is this: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 ESV)

To be sure you are ready to meet the Lord Jesus when you die, click HERE. 

For more help with death, dying, judgment, salvation and eternity, check out these resources:

• How to Handle the Death of a Loved One

• Facing Death Fearlessl

• 4 Desperately Hopeless Yet Common Approaches to Suffering and Death

• How to Prepare for Eternity Now and Face Death with Confidence Later

• What Can We Learn from a Cemetery Under a City Park?

• Podcast: If I commit suicide, will I go to hell?

To learn more about this “Christianity Questions and Answers” podcast and how to submit your questions, click HERE.

To develop your relationship with God, get my free eBook “10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth” click HERE.

You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this episode helpful, we’d love for you to rate the podcast in iTunes. This will help get this podcast in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Also, please Click here to leave a review – thanks so much for your help!

Why Should We Read Christian Biographies?

"Christianity Questions and Answers" podcast CQA 044

Podcast (listen-to-this-article-here): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:45 — 21.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

As a grade schooler, I loved to read biographies from our school library. Daniel Boone, Thomas Edison, Davey Crockett and others captivated and inspired me. That was 50 years ago. Yet still today, I love to read good biographies. Especialy Christian biographies.

Pastor Marty Schoenleber

In this podcast, Pastor Marty Schoenleber introduces us to the world of Christian biographies and answers to related questions such as:

• What are the benefits of reading Christian biographies?

• How can we make sure we remember the lessons learned from Christian biographies?

• What about listening to audio books?

• What are some good biographies to read?

• Are there any to stay away from?

Listen to this podcast to learn answers to these questions and why we should read Christian biographies.

Here are some of the great Christian biographies mentioned in this episode:

• John G. Paton – The Autobiography of a Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides (Vanuatu)

• Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

• Series of biographies: CHRISTIAN HEROES: THEN & NOW by Janet and Geoff Benge. Some of my favorites:

• John Williams

• Hudson Taylor

• Corrie ten Boom

• S. Lewis

• Adoniram Judson

• The Life and Diary of David Brainerd

• Brutchko: The Astonishing True Story of a 19-Year-Old American, His Capture by the Motilone Indians and His Adventures in Christianizing the Stone Age Tribe by Bruce Olson

Who is Marty? Marty Schoenleber Jr. has been a pastor, a church planter, a seminary professor, and an author but his favorite roll is as husband and father. These days he serves as one of the elders and teaching pastor at Trinity Church in Watseka, IL as well as his continuing work as a prolific blogger and missional strategist. In his blog he attempts to be “provocatively opinionated.”

Marty blogs at https://chosenrebel.me

You can see Marty’s books HERE.

You can also email Marty at chosen-rebel@hotmail.com

Marty wrote about some Christian biographies in this article.

For more stories and Christian testimonies see these resources on my website:

• The Oranges, a guest post by Jim Carpenter

• A Miracle Story from My Friend Jay

• My Heroic Great Grandpa and the Pre-Titanic – Part 1

• Why I Burned My Sister at the Stake

• My WORST Christmas Ever

To learn more about this “Christianity Questions and Answers” podcast and how to submit your questions, click HERE.

To receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord click HERE.

To develop your relationship with God, get my free eBook “10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth” click HERE.

You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this episode helpful, we’d love for you to rate the podcast in iTunes. This will help get this podcast in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Also, please Click here to leave a review – thanks so much for your help!

Facebook and other social media are random. But email is reliable. Please subscribe to my updates via email so you won’t miss any of these articles, podcasts or videos.

Can Anyone Perform A Baptism?

Podcast (listen-to-this-article-here): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:46 — 9.9MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

This question on baptism came from Africa: Can anyone perform a baptism? At Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI), we get questions from many nations where we train church planters. This is now over 100 countries.

A DCPI leader in Kenya wrote this about baptism and serving communion, “In most denominations it is the role of an ordained pastor or elder to administer these sacraments and it might seem DCPI is requiring the new church to do a role that can only be done by clergy who qualify. In many cases the pastor of a new church may not be authorized to conduct such even though they will be done but by leaders sent from their headquarters periodically.”

This question got us studying the question again.

Listen to this podcast to hear my answer. (Just hit the play button above to listen.)

What does Scripture say about baptism and who can do it? Here are some of the key passages I reference in this podcast:

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

“And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.” (1 Peter 2:5 NLT)

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:16-17 ESV)

For more help in understanding how the church should function, see these resources on my website:

• What is the Church Supposed to Be?

• How to Handle Church Conflicts with Confidence

• How to Get More Out of a Church Service Even if you Don’t Enjoy Going

• 4 Reasons We Must Start New Churches Now

• The Top Ten Reasons to Plant New Churches Now

• Podcast: Which denomination is right?

• Short Video: God Loves All Kinds of Churches

• Short Video: Abandoned Churches aren’t necessarily a bad thing.

To learn more about this “Christianity Questions and Answers” podcast and how to submit your questions, click HERE. 

To receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord click HERE.

To develop your relationship with God, get my free eBook “10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth” click HERE.

You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this episode helpful, we’d love for you to rate the podcast in iTunes. This will help get this podcast in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Also, please Click here to leave a review – thanks so much for your help!